Okumbi lauds SJAK Coach of the Month Award

NAIROBI, February 23 – Harambee Stars coach Stanley Okumbi believes the development of talent in football will grow after the Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK) partnered with Fidelity Insurance to launch the Coach of the Month Award.

Okumbi who was recently appointed Stars tactician said the new deal that will see the best coach rewarded with Sh50,000 and a trophy engraved with his name, will motivate trainers unearth talent from different parts of the country.

“Our task is to make sure we increase and develop football performance but our coaches have not been recognised. This is a motivation for them and we will see improvement of players as well as make sure there is consistence knowing at the end of the month they will be appreciated,” Okumbi, a former Mathare United head coach underscored.

The 10 month long Sh1.1m partnership will see football writers from various media houses select the best coach from all the leagues in the country as well as national teams with the aim of building the capacity of local coaches.

“We are delighted to launch the Coach of the Month Award just days after the new FKF showed fidelity in the ability of local coaches by appointing Stanley Okumbi to be the new Harambee Stars coach,” SJAK President Chris Mbaisi declared.

“This recognition of local coaches will instil confidence in the coaching fraternity to make attractive for jobs in the region and beyond. I believe a local coach with the inside knowledge of players has the ability to bring success back to the national team and we urge Okumbi’s colleagues in Premier League and National Super League to support him in his new responsibility,” he said.

Mbaisi challenged FKF to ensure coaches undergo regular training so that the technical level of Kenyan players can be par with world standards.

“The role coaches play in the development of players is a critical one and having launched a monthly award scheme for players last season, it was prudent to also recognise the responsibility of coaches in a bid to improve the standards of our game,” Mbaisi added.

The inaugural award for the Month of February will take place March 8, a week after the Player of the Month gong where the winner receives Sh100,000 after the prize money was doubled from last season’s Sh50,000.